Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals

What Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals does

The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded on September 17, 1976 by 38 African American pilots (representing nearly 50% of the minority pilot population at the time) to address discrimination in the airline industry. Originally named The Organization of Black Airline Pilots, it rebranded to reflect a broader mandate across all aerospace careers. Headquartered in Olive Branch, Mississippi, OBAP operates a 'dream-to-career' pipeline serving youth, students, and aerospace professionals through nine core programs: APIS (school-based outreach reaching 500,000+ since 1992), ACE Academy (FAA-endorsed summer programs at 46 locations), Solo Flight Academy (ages 16–18), Luke Weathers Flight Academy (FAR 141/61 professional pilot training), Ascension (collegiate chapters at 15+ universities), Scholarships (over $8M awarded to nearly 600 recipients), APDP (career services for ~4,000 professionals annually), National Flight Academy (Pensacola-based immersive STEM), and Explore Aerospace (12-week virtual STEM curriculum).

Revenue mechanics span four streams: membership dues (annual $30–$90, multi-year $243, lifetime $2,000, plus free ACE alumni tier); program fees ($125–$300 for ACE, Solo Flight Academy, Explore Aerospace, and LWFA discovery flights); corporate sponsorships and foundation grants (American Airlines, Delta, United, FedEx, UPS, Boeing, JetBlue, Hilton Foundation, Grable Foundation, NBA Foundation); and scholarship administration. Over $1M in scholarships were awarded in 2023, and 30,000+ students were reached that year alone. Go-to-market is community-led, driven by 5 Regional Directors, 5 Centers of Excellence (Memphis, Louisville, Atlanta, Miami, Houston), and a volunteer professional membership that serves as mentors and ambassadors. Technology stack comprises FAA-endorsed curriculum, virtual learning delivery on Zoom, and standard nonprofit CRM/e-commerce tools (NeonCRM, AwardSpring, Z2Systems, Regpack); no proprietary software, AI/ML, or API products are offered. The organization holds no patents and operates without subsidiaries or parent-company ownership.

Name

Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals

Legal name

Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals

Website

https://obap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

OBAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that runs a youth-to-career aerospace diversity pipeline, delivering FAA-endorsed education, flight training, scholarships, and career services to minority students and professionals across 46+ U.S. locations and five Centers of Excellence.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Education and Workforce Development

NAICS

Flight Training (611512), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

Keywords

• Aerospace education
• Aviation youth programs
• Professional development aerospace
• Aviation scholarships
• Diversity aerospace initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Westchester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from professional, student, and lifetime members providing access to career resources, networking, mentorship, and professional development programs
2. Youth Program Fees: Fees for ACE Academy ($175 standard, $300 advanced), Solo Flight Academy application fee ($175), and Explore Aerospace virtual program ($175)
3. Donations and Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from airlines (American Airlines, Delta, United, UPS, FedEx) and foundations (Hilton Foundation, Grable Foundation, NBA Foundation) supporting scholarships and program operations; In 2023, awarded over $1M in scholarships
4. Scholarship Administration: OBAP facilitates scholarship distribution to training institutions for recipients pursuing pilot licenses, aviation maintenance, and aerospace engineering degrees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

OBAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers aerospace education and career-development programs for underrepresented youth and professionals. Its offerings include youth aviation academies (ACE Academy, Solo Flight Academy, Luke Weathers Flight Academy, Explore Aerospace, National Flight Academy, APIS), professional development pathways (Ascension, APDP), and scholarship funding that supports flight training and aerospace careers.

Product overview

OBAP offers a comprehensive portfolio of youth outreach and professional development programs forming a dream-to-career pipeline in aerospace. The core youth programs include APIS (school visits reaching 500,000+ people), ACE Academy (46 FAA-endorsed summer academies in 30+ cities), Solo Flight Academy (16-18 year old flight training), and the Luke Weathers Flight Academy (professional FAR 141/61 pilot training). Supporting programs include the Ascension collegiate program, Scholarships (over $8M awarded), APDP career services for 4,000+ professionals annually, National Flight Academy (STEM aboard aircraft), and Explore Aerospace virtual courses. The organization also partners with the Academy of Model Aeronautics for UAS training. Together these programs provide exposure, education, training, mentorship, and career placement services for minorities in aerospace.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Project Aerospace: OBAP's umbrella program offering youth enrichment and aerospace career preparation through scholarships, mentoring, training, and education programs reaching over 100,000 youth annually.
• Luke Weathers Flight Academy
• Solo Flight Academy
• ACE Academy
• Scholarship Programs
• Ascension Program
• Aerospace Professional Development Program (APDP)

Products and services

• ACE Academy (Aviation Career Education Academy)
• APIS (Aerospace Professionals in Schools)
• Solo Flight Academy Hands-on flight training program for youth participants pursuing initial flight experience and pilot credentials.
• Luke Weathers Flight Academy (LWFA) Flight training academy for youth, supporting pilot training pathways and exposure to aviation careers.
• Explore Aerospace Youth program providing broader exposure to aerospace careers beyond piloting, including engineering and space-related fields.
• National Flight Academy Aviation experience program delivered in partnership with the U.S. Navy, offering immersive flight and aerospace exposure for youth.
• Ascension Program Professional development program for aerospace professionals advancing into leadership and senior roles within the industry.
• Aerospace Professional Development Program (APDP) Structured training program for professionals working in or entering the aerospace industry, focused on skills, credentials, and career progression.
• OBAP Scholarships Scholarship funding that supports flight training, certifications, and aerospace education for OBAP members and program participants.
• OBAP Membership Paid individual membership program that provides members access to professional development, networking, scholarships, and OBAP community resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ youth reached annually through youth programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tuskegee Airmen Inc. (TAI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1982Long-standing collaboration with Tuskegee Airmen Inc. to preserve and share the history of African Americans in aviation. Collaborated on the 'Black Wings' exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, touring nationally until 2016. Joint national conventions held in the 1990s and ongoing support for youth programs.
• Black Wings in Aviation (NAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide historical accounts of African Americans in aviation for the Smithsonian exhibition and ongoing advocacy for diversity in aerospace careers for over 70 years.
• Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with TAI and NAI to provide historical accounts of African Americans in aviation for the 'Black Wings' exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.
• National Flight AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing the A.I.R. program onboard Ambition aircraft carrier simulator at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL. OBAP facilitates student participation and scholarship support for the program.
• Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing formalized partnership to provide youth and adults with opportunities in full-scale or model aviation. Collaborative programs include AMA's UAS4STEM, AeroLab, and sUAS Training implemented in Memphis and Mobile, AL since 2015.
• Tuskegee NEXTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership supporting the next generation of Tuskegee Airmen through collaborative programming and student pathway development.
• Epic Flight AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner offering $20,000 aircraft mechanic Part 147 scholarship to OBAP members. Programs in New Smyrna Beach, FL.
• United Aviate AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPilot training pathway program partnered with OBAP for student recruitment and scholarship opportunities.
• National Academy of SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 1992, OBAP encouraged Congress to fund a 2-year study by NAS to evaluate the nation's pilot supply, demand, and production capacity beyond year 2000, leading to increased minority participation in military aviation.
• Air Venture AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlight training affiliate offering guaranteed CFI positions for LWFA graduates with potential airline tuition reimbursement opportunities.
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAA endorsement of ACE Academies; Houston Center partnership for youth outreach; Ongoing collaboration to support diversity in aviation careers.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Heritage aviation organization preserving the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and running youth-focused aviation education programs. Directly comparable to OBAP as a long-standing nonprofit with aviation diversity mission, similar youth outreach model, and overlapping founder/board relationships.
• Tuskegee NEXT: Nonprofit focused on developing the next generation of Tuskegee Airmen through pilot training and mentoring for underserved youth. Closely comparable to OBAP's Luke Weathers Flight Academy and Solo Flight Academy in mission, target audience, and structured flight training pathway.
• Women in Aviation International: Nonprofit dedicated to encouraging women in aviation and aerospace careers through scholarships, mentoring, and networking. Directly comparable to OBAP in operating model (membership, scholarships, annual conference, professional development) and diversity-in-aviation mission.
• National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees: Nonprofit representing Black federal aviation employees and supporting workforce development. Comparable to OBAP's APDP career development programming and federal aviation advocacy, with parallel focus on minority representation and FAA-related professional development.
• The Ninety-Nines: International women pilots' organization with scholarship programs, youth education (introduce-a-girl-to-aviation), and section-level local programming. Comparable to OBAP in target demographic focus, scholarship disbursement, and structured membership-driven aviation education mission.

Emerging players

• United Aviate Academy: United Airlines' branded pilot training academy offering a structured pathway to United Airlines First Officer. Comparable to OBAP's LWFA as a competing pilot pathway program specifically aimed at underrepresented candidates, with corporate backing and direct airline pipeline.
• American Airlines Cadet Academy: American Airlines-funded pilot cadet program partnering with flight academies to build a diverse pilot pipeline. Directly comparable to OBAP's LWFA — the same American Airlines that donated $1.5M to OBAP also funds this competing structured pathway.
• Epic Flight Academy: FAA Part 141 flight academy in New Smyrna Beach, FL offering $20,000 aircraft mechanic scholarship to OBAP members. Comparable to OBAP's LWFA as an FAR 141/61 certified flight training provider serving minority and underrepresented candidates through structured programs.

Broad incumbents

• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA): Largest general aviation association in the U.S. with You Can Fly youth aviation programs, high school initiatives, and flight training scholarships. Comparable to OBAP as a broader aviation education umbrella operating youth STEM and pilot pathway programs at national scale.
• Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA): Major general aviation organization with Young Eagles youth flight program (2M+ youth flown) and AeroEducate curriculum. Comparable to OBAP's APIS and ACE Academy in serving as a top-of-funnel youth aviation exposure program with strong volunteer pilot network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OBAPEXCELLENCE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0bBka1nedYmSsNm7-iOY_w/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/OBAPExcellence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/obap-center-of-excellence
• Instagraminstagram.com/obapexcellence

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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